PEOPLE in North Wales given the chance to have their say on the EU treaty have overwhelmingly demanded a referendum – and indicated they would vote No.

A mini poll in Aberconwy on the controversial treaty – which many fear is just the rejected EU constitution in another form – attracted more than a third of registered voters to take part.

A total of 10,700 residents returned their ballots out of a total sent out of 29,235.

Of that number, 86.2% answered Yes to the question: Should the UK hold a national referendum on the EU’s Lisbon treaty?

Asked whether the UK should adopt the EU’s Lisbon treaty, 87.9% said No.

The postal ballot was run by the Electoral Reform Services on behalf of the “I want a referendum” campaign.

The official turnout was 36.6%, comparable to many council elections.

Guto Bebb, of Caernarfon, a local supporter of the campaign and Tory candidate for Aberconwy, said: “We wanted to give the people of North Wales a chance to represent their country for a change, and they’ve certainly responded positively.

“This is a fantastic result and shows the local MP Betty Williams, the Government, and indeed all the main parties who pledged to hold a referendum on the EU constitution at the last election that they cannot be fobbed off, that we should be given the promised referendum – and that we would reject it out of hand.”

Another supporter of the campaign, Plaid Cymru councillor Phil Edwards, said: “Plaid has supported a referendum for the constitution on the basis that it was important for renewing democratic legitimacy to have a debate and vote on the future of the EU.

“A referendum was promised and, as the content of the Reform Treaty is much the same as the Constitution, Plaid Cymru has supported having a referendum.”

The chairman of the I Want A Referendum campaign in Wales, Dan Munford, said: “If the UK accepts the EU Constitution, the EU would start to control issues such as how we run the NHS, we would have a President of Europe, likely to be Tony Blair, and once we’ve signed up, there’s no going back.”

But Conwy MP Betty Williams said: “Before this campaign only two constituents had written to me about this treaty and since the ballot papers and publicity went out I have had another five.

“I think they should be disappointed with a response of just 36% which compares very unfavourably with a general election or Assembly election.”

The Welsh Labour whip Wayne David MP claimed yesterday that the “referendum” result was phoney and unrepresentative.

Mr David said: “Rather than have the guts to establish a genuine and honest campaign, the Tories put in place this phoney front. The people saw through this trick.”